Tank construction for measuring and dispensing



F. HAGUE 2,548,431

TANK CONSTRUCTION FOR MEASURING AND DISPENSING April 10, 1951 Filed April l0, 1945 S/r mm *mm U m GMM., WKNMWJH Patented Apr. 10, 1951 TANK CONSTRUCTION FOR MEASURING AND DISPENS'ING Fred Hague, Devon, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil Com-l pany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Nev Jersey Application April 10, 1945, Serial No. 587,472

1 Claim.

This invention relates broadly to a cargo truck, vand primarily .to a truck adapted to transport gasoline or other hydrocarbon fluids from one place to another. More particularly the invention relates to a cargo truck adapted to dispense a measured quantity of fluid, such -as gasoline or the like. Y

The tank of a gasoline cargo truck is normally -io-rmed of a plurality of compartments, the com- .partments being independent oi each other and adapted to lcontain predetermined quantities of iiu'id. It .has been ound important to distribute ,the weight oi gasoline or other iuid within the tank -so as not -to place undue strains and `stresses on the truck chassis particularly after one or thatth'ey are accurate.

:more of the compartments have been emptied In normal practice, the gasoline'cargoltruck is filled to capacity, and the truck is then driven from a central storage location to one or more places of consumer distribution, such as gasoline lservice stations. It then becomes necessary for the operator of the truck to dispense a certain measured quantity of gasoline to the service station, and this operation is subject to'many serious problems. Obviously, it is important to dispense the exact quantity of fluid desired. Also, as there are many city ordinances, re regulations and the like which must be observed, the dispensing of fluids such as gasoline or Vother volatile hydro-V carbon fluids must be performed in a proper and safe manner. l There have been numerous attempts in the past to solve this problem, many or which have met with varying degrees of success. The two most common procedures are to dispense a full-compartment of :duid to the service `station or to deliver a predetermined amount of fluid, using special'dev-ices designed for this purpose. For instance, if, one of lthe compartments of the tank holds `i200 gallons, another compartment holds i500 gallons and stiil another compartment holds 1800gallons, and if the service station operator desires `delivery of 1200 gallons, the :duid in. the 1200 gallon compartment is dispensed. If the service station operator desires 1500 gallons or 180i) gallons the uidin the particular compartment holding the desired quantity is dispensed. Under these circumstances, there is no particular problem involved in the delivery. However, it is seldom that the vservice station desires the exact quantity of fluid held in one or more of the compartments of the cargo truck. Usually, a greater or lesser quantity of fluid is'v desired than that l'stmerl Ain -a particular compartment.

, ipensed.

To take care of Athis problem, it has become customary to install metering `devices and the like `adjacent the cargo tank so as to measure the iiuid dis- Metered trucks, While overcoming many yof the `older problems, are subject to a number of additional problems. The metering devices fare expensive to .make and install, yand (as is .true in vall mechanical devices),l .they are subject to wear and breakdown, .as well as error. Accordingly, these meters are subject to constant repair, testing and supervision in order to make certain The additional service required to maintain the meters in proper functioning order entails considerable `manpower and Also, inV transporting fluid', such as gasoline, from one place toanother, the fluid is .considerably agitated causing 'formation of ygas,

' Ibubbies and 'the like within theriuid, which materially aiiects the accuracy of the meter and :additional mechanisms of dubious Value are -re- :quired to counteract the eiiect of the air or gas iniiltratlons. Accordingly, while the meter may 'be properly adjusted to indicate an Aaccurate measurement when the cargo truck leaves the 'maia storage place, 'it vmay not necessarily dispense an :accurately measured volume of uid at 'a remote point.

The prime object of this invention isfto over- .come the .aforementioned and other deficiencies the prior art.

Another important-object ofthe invention is to provide a cargo truck apparatus which'w'ill enable the operator to dispense a predetermined measured quantity of ifluid, which quantity may be varied at pensing Vis `not subject to inaccuracies', wear, repairs, and the like.

-Another 4object of the invention isto provide'a gasoline cargo truck .which is capable of vdispensing an accurate measured quantity of fluid wherein such quantity may not necessarily equalV the capacity' of any one of the usual compartments provided with-in the cargo tank.'

, ratus is utilized to load the truck with fluid thereby eliminating the usual loading manifold and pipe system.

Another `object of the invention is to utilize the usual compartmentd cargo truck tank now in extensive use to transport and dispense ameasv ured quantity-oi gasoline or the `.like wherein will, wherein -the apparatus -o'r so dise.

the alterations necessary thereto to perform Such function may be made quickly and inexpensively.

The drawing is a schematic view of the invention, showing only the tank, compartments therein and the apparatus in combination therewith which forms the subject of the present invention.

The general arrangement of the invention resides in a gasoline cargo tank adapted to be secured to a truck chassis or other suitable suspension arrangement, wherein the main portion of the tank is provided with one or more partitions to form separate individual compartments. Each compartment is adapted to hold a predetermined measured quantity of` fluid. An auxiliary measuring tank or receptacle of lesser volume than the main compartments is positioned in a lower horizontal plane relative to the main compartments, and is preferably mounted on and below the main compartments. Valved conduits are provided between each of the compartments and the measuring receptacle in a manner so that the iiuid may flow by gravity from the compartments into the measuring receptacle. The valved conduits are capable of selective control so that fluid may flow by gravity from one compartment into the measuring receptacle while the fluid in the remaining compartment or compartments is prevented from flowing into the measuring receptacle. This exible valve control arrangement also facilitates loading the several compartments where the auxiliary measuring tank functions as a manifold.

A dispensing outlet is positioned adjacent the bottom of the measuring receptacle and is controlled by a suitable valve, so that fluid may flow by gravity from the measuring receptacle. A l1- ing conduit or loading tube is preferably connected to the measuring receptacle so that each of the compartments within the cargo tank may be iilled with fluid through the measuring compartment, the fluid being caused to ow into the measuring receptacle and thereafter into each of the various compartments located above the measuring receptacle. A dual purpose is clearly secured by using the auxiliary measuring tank as an inlet manifold and an outage measuring device. The measuring receptacle is, necessarily, of a predetermined capacity, such capacity being equally divisible into the capacity of each of the main storage compartments. each of the main storage compartments has a capacity which is an exact multiple of the measuring receptacle.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral Hl generally indicates the cargo v tank which is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle truck chassis or other form ofv suspension in any suitable manner. The tank Ill may be considered to be generally elliptical and is formed of end walls II and I2 and side wall I3. Partitions I4 divide the tank I into a plurality of sections. for example, as shown, three separate compartments. Each of the compartments is adapted to hold a predetermined quantity of fluid such as gasoline. For instance, compartment A may hold 1200 gallons and compartment B may hold 1500 gallons, while compartment C may hold 1800 gallons. As will be explained hereinafter more fully, the capacity of the compartments may be varied relatively to the capacity of the measuring vessel.

Each compartment is provided with the usual dome caps I5, for providing the customary venting of the compartments as well as to give access to the compartments. The compartments may alsorbe provided with suitable sight gauges or Stated conversely, i

other liquid level gauges to indicate the liquid level of the various compartments during the lling operation. It is preferred, however, to construct the compartments as shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 587,471, filed April 10, 1945, now Patent No. 2,539,663, issued Jan. 30, 1951, which would then enable the lling operator to ll each of the compartments to a predetermined measured capacity easily and quickly while avoiding any possibility of spillage or overflow.

The measuring receptacle generally indicated by the letter D has a capacity of 100 gallons and may be considered to be generally elliptical and formed of end walls I 8, and I9 and side wall 20. It will, of course, be understood that both the cargo tank and measuring tank may take various shapes and that the side wall or bottom wall of the cargo tank could form the side wall or top wall of the measuring tank.

The measuring receptacle D is preferably secured to the underside of the main storage compartments A, B and C by suitable brackets 2I in a manner to position the measuring receptacle D directly underneath each of the storage compartments. Suitable conduits 22, 23 and 24 provide communication between storage compartments A, B, C respectively and the measuring receptacle D. Valves 26, 2'1 and 28 are preferably positioned within compartments A, B and C to control the ow of fluid under gravitation from each of the compartments A, B and C into the measuring receptacle and valve actuating rods 29, and 3| are connected to the valves 26, 2'I and 28 to extend upwardly through the compartments and terminate in a suitable control handle or fulcrum lever 32 which,vif desired, may also be adapted to be actuated through suitable controls from the ground level.

A dispensing outlet or conduit 35 is placed in communication with the measuring receptacle D through the side wall 23 and a suitable valve 36 is positioned within the measuring receptacle to control the gravity ilow of fluid from the measuring receptacle D through the dispensing outlet. Valve 3B may, as shown, be provided with a suitable actuating rod 3l and handle 38 therefor. A lling conduit 4I) has one end thereof in communication with the measuring receptacle D while its other end may extend upwardly as indicated to a point slightly above the top of side wall I3 of the tank I0. A suitable closure cap 4I is provided for the upper end of the conduit 40. In the event that filling operations from the ground level are preferred, the lling conduit 40 and its fittings may be dispensed with, and dispensing outlet 35, valve 36 and actuating mechanisms 3l and 38 utilized as the inlet for liquid iiow.

' Assuming now that the cargo truck is returned in empty condition to the storage location and is ready to be loaded with fluid, such as gasoline, the operator will remove the cap 4I and connect a suitable conduit to the upper portion of the iilling conduit 40. Each of the valves 26, 27 and 28 are opened by actuating the control rods 29, 3D and 3l by the handles 32 so as to provide iluid communication between the measuringreceptacle D and each of the compartments A, B and C and valve 36 of the dispensing outlet 35 is closed by the actuating rod 31 and handle 38. Fluid then flows into the measuring receptacle D, now used as a manifold,V and thereafter into each of the compartments thereabove through a series of .connecting pipes. When each of the compartments is completely lled to the desired capacity, the supply of fluid to the illing conduit 40 is out oi. The truck is then filled to a measured capacity of 4600 gallons, 1200 gallons being contained in compartment A, 1500 gallons in compartment B, 1600 gallons in compartment C and 100 gallons in measuring vessel A. The cargo truck is then ready to proceed to a distant point, such as a gasoline service station. Assuming now that the gasoline service station desires delivery of 1300 gallons of gasoline, the operator will then open valve 26 to permit fluid to flow by gravity from compartment A into measuring receptacle D, thereafter, valve 36 will be open to permit ow of fluid by gravity from the measuring receptacle D into the dispensing outlet 35 and into the usual underground storageVK tank. Thus, the 100 gallons stored in the measuring receptacle D and the 1200 gallons stored in compartment A would be dispensed to satisfy the required 1300 gallons desired. Thereafter, valve 36 will be closed as will also valve 26 and the cargo truck will be ready to proceed to another service station. If the next service station desires delivery of 1600 gallons, the operator would then open valve 28 to permit fluid to flow by gravity from compartment C into the measuring receptacle D. Obviously, only 100 gallons will flow into measuring receptacle D. After the measuring receptacle had been filled valve 28 would then be closed and valve 21 would be opened to permit fluid to flow by gravity from compartment B into measuring receptacle D. Thereafter, valve 36 would be opened to permit uid to ow by gravity from the measuring receptacle D through the dispensing outlet 35. Since the compartment B held 1500 gallons and the measuring receptacle D had been refilled from compartment C exactly 1600 gallons would be dispensed, leaving exactly 1700 gallons remaining in compartment C. The liquid remaining in compartment C can then be dispensed in 100 gallon lots, until it is emptied, by the proper manipulation of valves 28 and 36 or the entire content dispensed.

It will be understood, of course, that each of the compartments A, B and C may be of any desired capacity and not necessarily the capacity herein mentioned. Also, measuring receptacle D may be of any desired capacity, so long as the capacity of the measuring receptacle is less than,

From the foregoing detailed description it will v be seen that the present invention enables an exand equally divisible into the capacity of each of the compartments. For instance, if it became the custom of gasoline service stations to desire amounts of gasoline not equally divisible by 100 55 gallons, the measuring receptacle could have a capacity of 10 gallons, 25 gallons, 50 gallons or the like. It will also be understood that from the capacities given, any desired quantity of fluid could be dispensed from the cargo truck, so long as the desired quantity was in multiples of the measuring receptacle and, in the present instance, of 100 gallons.

act measured quantity of fluid to be dispensed from a gasoline cargo truck, or other fluid conveying vehicle wherein kexpensive meters are eliminated as wellas the usual problems associated therewith.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:-

A tank construction adapted for a vehicle comprising a casing, partitions extending thereacross forming a plurality of upper compartments, a lower compartment secured to said casing and positioned directly beneath the upper compartments, each of said upper compartments being in communication by independent conduit means with said lower compartment, valve means in each of said independent conduit means for controlling the fluid ow between each of the upper compartments and the lower compartment, the capacity of each upper compartment, measured in gallons, being a multiple of the gallonage capacity of the lower compartment and each upper compartment having a capacity different from that of each of the other upper compartments, the lower compartment having a vfeed inlet extending to a point above the upper compartments for gravity delivery of uid to said lower compartment and gravity delivery of fluid to the upper compartments through the several conduits connecting the lower compartment and the upper compartment, the lower compartment having also a valved dispensing outlet for dispensing fluid received from the upper compartments through saidconduits; whereby, when the feed inlet and the valves on said connecting con duits are opened, the lower compartment functions as a manifold for gravity lling of an empty tank, and when the valve on said dispensing outlet and the valve or valves on one or more of said conduits are opened, functions also to continuously receive and dispense a quantity of iiuid equal to the capacity of any one or more of the tanks, or the capacity of any one or more of the tanks plus the capacity of the lower compartment, dependent upon whether at the start of dispensing the lower compartment is lled or empty.

FRED HAGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 47,546 Hurd May 2, 1865 240,442 Miller Apr. 19, l1881 1,590,578 Harris June 29, 1926 1,737,929 Libby Dec. 3, 1929 2,144,465 Selleck Jan. 17, 1939 2,254,994 Butland Sept. 2, 1941 

